Improve Your Resume & Cover Letter Writing Skills

It's no secrets that good writing skills are lacking among a majority of job seekers these days. So whenever I find something that will help them improve they way they write I make it known. Check out the Writing Center at the University of Purdue. Click the section entitled 'Job Search Writing'.

Found on TMCnet.com:

The Online Writing Lab, http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl, provides a variety of "Job Search Writing" tips including formatting, resume sections, verb usage, word choices, font, keywords, appropriate content, proofing and mailing tips."

Many college graduates looking for their first job don't understand how a cover letter and resume should correlate," says Tammy Conard-Salvo, writing lab assistant director. "Cover letters and resumes are complementary. Use the cover letter to tell a story that emphasizes your skills, then that information or experiences you mention should also be included in the resume."

Conard-Salvo also says it's important to customize cover letters by tailoring them for a specific job's qualifications. One way to do so is use key words from the job ad."Don't just copy and paste names, but instead demonstrate that you have done research," Conard-Salvo says. "Some clients create one cover letter to mail to 50 people. That lack of effort will be apparent."

Another Jobseeker Who Doesn't Get It

Louise Fletcher over on Career Hub posted this story about a job seeker who emailed her. It's a great example of what not to do when it comes to emailing your resume to an employer.

Negotiating your salary: Never Give Away Your Bottom Line

I just discovered a nice post today on negotiating your salary by C.E. Reid of the Smart Resume Power blog. Check it out >>

Marketing Staffing Survey Results Find That 57% of Fortune 500 Corporate Marketing Departments Plan on Hiring Additional Marketers in 2006

Good news if you're in the interactive marketing field...This field is one of the hottest job markets in the U.S. and around the world.

Internet Marketing is the Number One Area Corporate Marketing Departments' are Planning to Spend More Money On

Aquent Marketing Staffing, the world's largest staffing firm specializing in the placement of marketing professionals, today announced the recent findings of its "2006 Spending & Staffing Trends for Corporate Marketing Departments" study. Aquent surveyed over 1,700 marketing professionals at Fortune 500 companies across the country and Canada to gain insight into what areas of marketing Fortune 500 companies were planning to increase spending on in 2006 along with their staffing needs.

Compared to Aquent's 2005 findings, hiring has increased by 5 percent this year. "With more companies hiring, Aquent has seen a significant rise in its temp-to-perm solution, Talent Bridge," said Sean Bisceglia, president of Aquent Marketing Staffing. "Talent Bridge allows companies to work with a marketer on a "try before you buy" basis without adding head count for the first three months. That way hiring managers can evaluate performance, productivity, and cultural fit before making a permanent and costly commitment."

Aquent places over 1,000 experienced marketing professionals per year within leading Fortune 500 companies on an interim basis. Today, more than 20 percent of Aquent's interim marketers are going from temp-to-perm, and the number keeps growing.

Additionally, the survey found that there will be an increased focus on Internet marketing in 2006, with more than 50 percent of companies planning to increase spending in this area. Spending in branding and advertising follow closely behind, while brand mangers and project managers are the top two positions corporate marketing departments are looking to fill.
Aquent's survey also found that with the economy and job market picking up, along with the talk of Baby Boomers and the impending labor shortage, 59 percent of companies are concerned about employee retention and 78 percent believe employee turnover will be a challenge over the next five years.

To receive a copy of the "2006 Spending & Staffing Trends for Corporate Marketing Departments" study, please contact Kelly Shumaker by email kshumaker@aquent.com, 312-334-6980, or visit aquent.com.

Free Resume Advice from One of the Best Resume Writers Around

Digging through my old desk today I found a book that once was my resume writing bible. It was called Resume Pro: The Professionals Guide by Yana Parker. In my earlier career I moonlighted as a resume writer and Yana's book and monthly newsletter were my prized possesions when I needed advice on a resume I was writing.

Since then Yana has published more books so I thought I would heep some praise on her and tell my readers that her website is a great place for finding resume tips and advice. In particular you will find:

• Hot Tips on Resume Writing
• 52 Job-Search Q&A's
• 25 Tough Resume PROBLEMS
• Find Your Skills & Talents
• Employers Downsizing: Layoffs? Here's help.
• Resume Samples

Weddles Offering Job Search Seminar

WEDDLE's introduced a new audio-based seminar to help you find your dream job on the Internet.

Called How to Look for a Job on the Web and Still Look Like a Winner, the program will be presented by WEDDLE's Publisher, Peter Weddle, on:

Tuesday, April 4th

It begins at 11:00 a.m. EST, 8:00 a.m. PST and is one hour long.

What are the benefits of the seminar?

Training is delivered to you, there's no need to get dressed up or disrupt your day.
The content is practical and inspirational, giving you a head start on success in the job market.
The instructor knows what he's talking about. Peter Weddle is one of the country's most highly-rated trainers.

What's the fee? Just $49 per person! Sure, it's hard to spend money when you're looking for a job. But think of this program as an investment - an investment in your future.

Registration is limited, so reserve your seat now. To sign up, please call WEDDLE's at 203.964.1888.

How Job Seekers Audition for a Job

Interesting article this month in Business 2.0 on the "Best-kept secrets of the worlds best companies". One of which is #8 from Southwest Airlines. As a job seeker it's imperative that you treat every employee you come in contact with at a potential employer like you would the interviewer...turns out they are all interviewers in a way!

The Job Audition: Turn the interview process into an all-encompassing tryout.

You don't just get interviewed when you apply for a job at Southwest Airlines. You get auditioned--and it starts the moment you call for an application. Given that ultrafriendly service is critical to the $7.6 billion carrier's success, it's little wonder that HR managers don't wait until the interview to start screening. When a candidate calls for an application, managers jot down anything memorable about the conversation, good or bad. The same is true when the company flies recruits out for interviews. They receive special tickets, which alert gate agents, flight attendants, and others to pay special attention: Are they friendly to others or griping about service and slurping cocktails at 8 a.m.? If what the employees observe seems promising--or not--they're likely to pass it on to HR. Even when recruits aren't on the spot, they're on the spot. During group interviews of flight attendants, applicants take turns giving three-minute speeches about themselves in front of as many as 50 others. The catch? Managers are watching the audience as closely as the speaker. Candidates who pay attention pass the test; those who seem bored or distracted get bounced. "We want to see how they interact with people when they think they're not being evaluated," says Southwest recruiter Michael Burkhardt. The screening method not only keeps turnover low (about 5.5 percent annually) but keeps customers happy. Every year since 1987, the carrier has received the lowest number of passenger complaints in the industry.

ZoomInfo Adds More Benefits for Jobseekers

If you haven't posted your personal profile on ZoomInfo yet then you will soon be missing out on the chance to be found by recruiters everywhere. They just added a candidate search tool that allows hiring managers/recruiters to get qualified, interested candidates directly to their inbox.

Zoom Information., the search engine for discovering people, companies and relationships, has accelerated and simplified the process of targeting, communicating with and qualifying potential candidates. ZoomInfos flagship product PowerSearch can now be purchased with JobCast , an integrated email and campaign management platform. Unlike traditional job boards that often deliver heaps of unqualified resumes, JobCast automates the candidate targeting process by giving recruiters the power to select exact matches from over 29 million business professionals and allowing potential candidates to self-select and pre-qualify themselves for specific positions. JobCast additionally has an automated referral mechanism to help recruiters tap into external referral networks and fill pipelines for future openings.

Source: interbiznet Bugler

Snapshots from the New Job Search

There's a great article from the February issue of Fast Company that really illustrates the 'new job search' taking place today. Here are some excerpts...

On networking...

"Today's power networkers aren't just hoarding contacts but sharing information in unprecedented amounts at unbelievable speed. "They're far more open about discussing their private lives, from what they did at that party this weekend to salary information about their jobs," says Morris. "What used to be difficult to get, you can now just ask [for]." Masie sees this warp-speed, ultraconnected culture at work in his own company. "Students who do internships with me use Facebook more than email," he says. Their conversation threads regularly focus on work experiences: What did they learn? Who did they meet? Was it fun? Did it pay well? Where do they want to work next? "One used Facebook to decide not to take a full-time job she was offered," he says. "Her network told her it wasn't a good place to work."

On Your Image...

"Over time, hiring managers will be less interested in the salacious stuff that a Google search might reveal. "So you were president of your frat," says Morris. "As more information gets out there about everyone, it diffuses the importance of each individual piece of information. It will be okay."

But that doesn't mean you won't have to manage your professional image. Lara Kammrath, a psychology postdoc at Columbia University who is making the rounds in the academic job market, recently had to deal with one of those moments when the Web's power rears up and surprises you. She arrived for an interview at a school in Ohio on a Friday, and the dean asked her how her job talk in New York the previous Monday had gone. She was shocked. Turns out that her "candidate talk" had been posted on the calendar of events at the New York school's site, and it turned up in a Google search. Kammrath couldn't help feeling panicked. "I wondered if they were waiting to see if I mentioned it," she says. "A lot of the politics of these jobs is whether they think you'll say yes. They might go with a less preferred candidate with a higher chance of return if they thought my interviewing at another school was a sign that I wasn't placing them first on my list." She got the offer (and turned it down), but the experience was nerve-wracking. "

On Your Education...

"Solid communication skills, analytical thinking, and being a quick study are the new keys to success. Ironically, these are staples of the classic liberal-arts education. This is in marked contrast to the ever-more-specialized approach that some of today's college degrees take. That UMass Amherst degree in building materials and wood technology? Hard to believe it's going to last you a lifetime. "

On Your Career...

"Labor trends point to the increasing importance of adaptability. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker currently holds 10 different jobs before hitting age 40. Job tenures now hover around four years. Forrester Research's Claire Schooley predicts these numbers will only get more extreme, anticipating that today's youngest workers will hold 12 to 15 jobs in their lifetimes. "

It's a must read for any job seeker.

Death of a Job Board

Thanks to Bob Wilson for pointing this out about America's Job Board. It's about to be shutdown. As he mentions, it's like saying good bye to an old friend. I remember using the site in the late 90's when I was job-hunting. So long AJB...

Can you spot the star in the crowd?

I just love this Fast Company print ad promoting their in house hiring center. It illustrates just what employers are faced with these days...namely that it's getting harder to find that star performer among a crowd of average candidates. And for job seekers, this ad is the essence of what you need to do get hired. You must rise above the masses. You must stand out above your fellow job seekers. You must brand yourself as a star. Do that, and the companies will come calling.



For a little extra advice on how to do exactly this, read these fine articles;

The Brand Called You

Rules rule when job hunting

Personal Marketing Plan

Key Marketing Tools to Position Yourself on the Job Market

On the Interview You Must Dress for Success

Everyone needs to dress the part before going on an interview. The way you look as you walk into an interview will have a large effect on the interviewer's first impression of you. As a job seeker, you must realize that you are "packaging" yourself to the prospective company. Therefore, you must dress for success.

An updated wardrobe is also something you should invest in. Consider this scenario, two women over 50 years of age recently interviewed for a job at a consumer products company. One applicant used too much makeup, had a bouffant hairdo and wore a flashy dress. The other wore light makeup, a stylish pantsuit and a more modern hairstyle.

Which one got the job? The woman who dressed like she was 40 did.

The way you dress in an interview should convey that you are a rising star. That means wearing modern clothing, stylish, younger hair styles and even things like new glasses. Never go too casual such as wearing sandals to an interview.

While dress codes vary widely at different firms, the basics are suits for men and a matching suit jacket and skirt with blouse for women.

Before you walk out the door for that next interview, give your look a job search makeover. Scrutinize your appearance and ask friends and colleagues for advice. Even recruiters can help you decide what to wear; just ask. But whatever you do, don't let your appearance seem outdated.

Where the Hiring Is the Hottest

Here are some sweet spots in the job market from USNews.com

New sites target baby boomers for employment

Thinking about working after retirement? These sites will help you put your years of knowledge back to work.

From Workforce.com...

"Employers are increasingly seeking to use the abilities and knowledge of retired professionals. At the same time, good health, longer lives and, in some cases, financial concerns are prompting highly skilled retired professionals to return to the workforce. The number of workers aged 55 and older is growing four times faster than the workforce as a whole, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor of Statistics.

Several retiree employment Web sites are playing matchmaker to companies and retirees, including AlumniInTouch, SelectMinds, YourEncore and RetiredBrains.com. These sites take advantage not only of demographic trends, but technological ones: Employment advertising has migrated to the Internet, and the number of Internet-savvy retirees is growing, says Art Koff, founder and owner of RetiredBrains.

The sites target somewhat different groups of retirees. AlumniInTouch and SelectMinds are aimed primarily at former employees and retirees of large firms (think of them as corporate social networking sites). The primary focus of YourEncore is highly skilled retired scientists and engineers. RetiredBrains.com takes a broader focus, listing seniors and older workers in 27 job categories, with the most popular being finance, marketing and advertising, and health care."

Jobster Launches New Features for Job Seekers

Along with Indeed and SimplyHired, Jobster is one of the cool new tools for job hunting. They've just launched some new features on their site which brings job search to the forefront. According to the Jobster Blog...

"first, we launched a new layout to the jobster.com homepage. one thing you'll notice is a map which shows job searches as they are occurring on jobster in real time. (don't worry my overseas friends ... more countries on the way) a fun little trick is to search for yourself e.g. "Jason Goldberg in Seattle, WA" and then go back to the homepage quickly to see yourself appear on the map.

we also updated our tools which enable users to add a jobster job feed or job search widget onto their blogs or websites. you can create your feed here (requires log-in for now)...."

I love the real time job search map...and don't forget to visit their blog for helpful career advice from industry experts.

Weird Job Seeker Stunts

I have long advocated that job seekers need to differentiate themselves but it sounds like a few of them have taken it to far. There's a story on CNN from CareerBuilder that details some of their weird stunts...

...here are some of the most bizarre things job seekers did to get noticed:

-Wore a tuxedo.
-Used a celebrity official fan site as one of their portfolio accomplishments.
-Brought a baby gift to the interviewer who was pregnant.
-Sat next to the hiring manager in a church pew.
-Left Yankee tickets for the interviewer.
-Sent a nude photo of himself to the hiring manager.
-Tried to do a stand-up comedy routine.
-Waited for the hiring manager at his car.
-Came dressed as a cat.
-Said they "smiled on command."

Read full story on CNN >>

MySpace.com and College Students Sometimes Don't Mix

My local TV station just published this story. Listen up, college kids...

Job seekers should be wary of personal website content

(WTNH, Mar. 14, 2006 5:05 PM) _ Another warning tonight about websites like myspace.com and facebook.com.

This time college students have reason to beware. Potential employers are now using those websites as screening tools.

A lot of college kids think 'Hey I can do what I want in school and worry about the real world when I get there'.

They may want to worry about the real world now because what they do in college may come back to haunt them later.

"I can show you my profile and it shows my interests," says Jennifer Chestone, Quinnipiac University Senior.

Read full article on WTNH.com >>

The Best Way to Avoid Age Discrimination

I'm a big fan of Ask The Headhunter. He publishes a newsletter where he tackles job hunting topics and his site is full of other great career advice articles. His latest newsletter is about a 51 yr old man who wants to avoid age discrimination. It's a question I hear often so I wanted to share part of his recent newsletter. For all you baby boomers out there, it's good advice.

Question
I am 51 years old and just got caught in a layoff. I am going to pursue new employment starting next week. I have 20 years of management experience, and I know I have a lot to offer any company in my industry. The only thing that worries me is my age. You hear so many stories about talented people my age being discriminated against. Do I have a problem, or is it in my head? Thanks.

Reply
There is no doubt that bigotry and discrimination thrive in the dirty little corners of the corporate world. But if there is age anxiety in your own mind, that's far more dangerous to your career. Don't approach an interview thinking about your age. Expect that a company wants you for the profit you can create. Then, if a business rejects you, all you're walking away from is a lousy company.

Some employers will discriminate over age; some won't. The best way to influence them is to walk in the door, having done your homework, and show how you're going to help them improve their bottom line. I cover this simple idea so often that I fear people will get tired of it. But this is especially important if you're concerned about discrimination, because one thing trumps bigotry: Money. Show a company that you will help it make more money, and you will get almost any manager's attention. Let the manager smell your worries about your age, and you're toast.

I completely agree with Nick's assessment. Just focus your approach on solving the company's problems. As a job seeker that is your best bet. You can also do things like dressing younger, only listing the last 10 years of experience on your resume and brushing up on your computer skills.

Small company or big: Which would you rather work for?

"In a recent poll at CollegeGrad.com, a leading entry level job site, 70 percent of job seekers said they would prefer working for a medium or small employer. Only 30 percent said they would prefer working for a large international company. CollegeGrad.com says feedback is contrary to the view that college grads only want to work for Fortune 500 or Global 1000 companies. The poll shows they actually prefer small and medium size companies, which offer a more personal experience."

I like this survey for several reasons. First when I worked for small companies I wore many hats so the opportunity to learn is tremendous. Small companies have a more relaxed culture than the Fortune 500's and working for them gives you a better chance to shine and take the initiative. Two, small companies are the ones who are hiring. They have the highest rate of job growth compared to their big brothers so college grads are more likely to be hired by them. Third, it tells us that "big" corporations have an image problem, no doubt caused by the endless scandals in the past five years.

If I were graduating today, I would rather work at a small company. Being a small fish in a big pond just doesn't have the allure it once did.

What are the hardest jobs to fill?

Manpower Inc. (MAN) surveyed nearly 33,000 employers across 23 countries and territories in late January to determine the extent to which talent shortages are impacting today’s labor markets. The survey results, released today, revealed that 40 percent of employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions due to the lack of suitable talent available in their markets.

Download PDF - 245 KB from Manower

Employers having the most difficulty finding the right people to fill jobs are those in Mexico (78% reporting shortages), Canada (66%) and Japan (58%). The talent shortage appears to be least problematic in India, where only 13 percent of employers reported having difficulty filling positions.

Global ResultsThe top 10 jobs that employers are having difficulty filling across the 23 countries and territoriessurveyed are (ranked in order):

1. Sales Representatives
2. Engineers
3. Technicians (primarily production/operations, engineering and maintenance)
4. Production Operators
5. Skilled Manual Trades (primarily carpenters, welders and plumbers)
6. IT Staff (primarily programmers/developers)
7. Administrative Assistants/Personal Assistants
8. Drivers
9. Accountants
10. Management/Executives

Beating the odds: Job Seekers Vie for Opportunity

Here's an interesting post from Autoblog.com about one company and the flood of resumes they just received. Looks like people who apply here will have a 1 in 13,000 chance of getting hired. Those are some tough odds.

Nissan receives 13,000 applications for jobs at new Nashville headquarters

If you've already sent in your resume to Nissan for a job in their new Nashville headquarters, congratulations-- you're one in 13,000.

The automaker's soon-to-be-transplanted nerve center has had Tennesseans clamoring for virtual applications on the company's web site. Nobody appears to know how many positions will be available, but there are 158 postings presently listed-- an increase of 20 over the week prior. Nissan expects to have 1,300 employees at the facility, but many workers are making the pilgrimage from Los Angeles with the company, meaning that thousands of applicants are going to be hard-pressed to net an interview, let alone a position.

Regardless of the CV glut, Nissan is still requesting applications from interested parties.

[Source: Fairview Observer]

Death of a Salesman Among Job Seekers

Good salespeople are hard to find. And according to a recent survey by Manpower, they are the hardest jobs to fill. Sales jobs are one of the top two jobs posted on my job boards (the other is Admin Assistant) and companies are desperate to find them. Where have all the salesman gone?

Working in sales means interacting with people. And as we all know, today's generation of young workers is more comfortable at the computer than in person. Personally I think sales is a great job as long as the product you sell is great. Being in sales means making your own hours and forging important relationships with customers. If you can 'schmooze' then consider a career in sales. I would also recommend watching GlenGarry, Glen Ross. A great movie about salesmen.

The money is good, the work is steady, but is sales for you?

By WAYNE SMITH, Times Business Editor

Thinking about a career in sales? The money is good - great for exceptional sales professionals; the work is steady. But is it for you?

Ask yourself a simple question: Can you handle rejection?

"The key is you've got to develop a stomach for it," said Jim Duggan of Huntsville, who owns Telco Specialties. Duggan does sales work for companies that want to outsource that duty. "You've got to be able to digest a lot of nos and simply have to be able to take rejection.

"I make a game of it - the more people who tell me no, the closer I am to a yes."
Welcome to the life of a salesman.

And when it comes to finding a great salesman, most companies will pay dearly. According to Jacques Werth of High Probability Selling, an average salesman will make about $90,000 annually; a reasonably good salesman will earn $140,000; and the sky is the limit for really good sales professionals.

"There is a great shortage of really good salespeople and sales executives," Werth said. "The best ones are in great demand.''

A recent survey by Manpower shows sales representatives at the top of the list of jobs that employers have a hard time filling.

Continue >> (registration req'd)

Five Tools for Online Personal Branding

Much has been said about branding yourself in today's online world. With many candidates now being 'googled' before an interview it's as important than ever to maintain an personal online brand. So here are 5 online tools (other than a blog or a personal website) that you can use to increase exposure to your profile and skills.

1. ZoomInfo - Create a profile for yourself and join a database over 27 million business professionals. Many recruiters use this large database to source candidates so get yourself listed.

2. PR Web - Offers free online press release distribution services. They are the largest Newswire catering to small and medium sized companies and organizations and one of the largest online press release newswires. Individuals can post a press release as long as its newsworthy.

3. PageBites.com - in addition being able to search jobs from around the web PageBites offers job seekers the chance to post their Bio online. These bios are searchable for free by anyone so its a great tool to promote yourself, your blog or your personal website.

4. LinkedIn - If you haven't heard about LinkedIn by now then you are missing the boat on promoting yourself. LinkedIn is a social network site that allows you post your profile and network with other individuals. When your network connections invite their connections, your Network starts to grow. Its a great site to uncover job leads and be found!

5. Jigsaw - similar to ZoomInfo, Jigsaw is a user based site where actual users upload and share information about their professional contacts. In fact you may be listed in there and not even know it. Find out if you are in Jigsaw...

Recruiters appreciate a ‘pushy’ applicant - No, not really

I saw this on HRreporter.com today. I agree that follow up is important but you should never be 'pushy' as the article says. Don't call the hiring manager 3 times in one day. One phone call should suffice and it should be memorable enough to make a good first impression of yourself. Leave a message that indicates your interest in the job AND knowledge of the company.

###

Recruiters appreciate a ‘pushy’ applicant
Follow up is good, but hiring managers look for a candidate who demonstrates knowledge of the company

Hiring managers’ phones could soon be ringing off the hook, thanks to a recent survey that encourages job seekers to be “pushy” and follow up within two weeks of submitting a resumé.The survey of 100 Canadian executives, conducted by staffing firm Robert Half International, found that 86 per cent of them said job seekers should contact the hiring managers shortly after applying for a job. Only four per cent said job seekers shouldn’t follow up.

“Employers value initiative and enthusiasm and thoughtful post-resume communication underscores these traits,” said the staffing firm’s chairman and CEO Max Messmer.“Whether communicating in writing or over the telephone, job seekers should demonstrate their knowledge of the company while reinforcing their qualifications and sincere interest in the position.”

Forty-six per cent of executives said applicants should follow up by phone, 34 per cent said they should do so by e-mail and eight per cent said they should do so with a handwritten note.

E-mail is overrated

Interesting post by Jim Durbin over on Recruiting.com about the way job seekers apply...check it out.

Tiffany at Magic Pot of Jobs suggest that IT candidates who don't use e-mail might want to take the IT out of their job descriptions. David Perry suggest the use of the fax to make yourself look good. Back in the days when I was a recruiter, I preferred the US Post, as long as money was stuffed into the envelope along with the resume. I remember one time receiving a resume with a $1 bill taped to the top of the resume. I thought it was particularly clever, and resolved to call the guy. When I removed the dollar... continued >>

20 great jobs that don't require a degree

From CareerBuilder.com

Though it was once conventional wisdom that you needed to have a four-year college degree to be successful, many employment experts believe that maxim has become myth.
While a college education increases a worker's chances of earning more money, it's certainly not the only reliable path to well-paid and rewarding work.

Even though good jobs increasingly require some post-high school training, many still don't require a four-year degree. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, eight of the top 10 fastest-growing occupations through 2014 do not require a bachelor's degree.

Here are 5 of the top 20. For the rest of top paying jobs without a college degree continue here.

Air traffic controller
Annual income: $102,030

Storage and distribution manager
Annual income: $66,600

Transportation manager
Annual income: $66,600

Police and detectives supervisor
Annual income: $64,430

Non-retail sales manager
Annual income: $59,300

New survey touts Engineering Careers

Engineering Heads List of Majors With Highest Average Starting Salary Offers

In a job market that is seeing higher starting salary offers to new college graduates, engineering majors can expect to see the highest offers, on average, according to a report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Engineering majors garnered the four highest starting salary offers and five of the top-10 spots. "Seven of the top-10 majors with the highest starting salary offers saw increases in their offers over last year," says Marilyn Mackes, executive director of NACE, of the organization's Winter 2006 issue of Salary Survey.

"Engineering remains strong, and another high point comes for economics/finance graduates, who saw a spectacular 11-percent increase to their average starting salary offers."

The following majors have the highest salaries paid to 2005-06 graduates (average salary offers are in parentheses):

1. Chemical engineering ($55,900)
2. Computer engineering ($54,877)
3. Electrical/electronics and communications engineering, ($52,899)
4. Mechanical engineering ($50,672)
5. Computer science ($50,046)
6. Accounting ($45,723)
7. Economics/finance, including banking ($45,191)
8. Civil engineering ($44,999)
9. Business administration/management ($39,850)
10.Marketing/marketing management, including marketing research ($36,260)

Article: Offshoring creates more IT jobs in US

Think outsourcing is bad? Not according to this article...

Information technology jobs will continue to grow in the US because of globalisation and offshoring, according to a new report. Belying the common belief that shifting IT jobs to countries like India is a threat to workers in the US, the report states that IT job opportunities will grow in America because cost savings achieved by outsourcing will help fuel new business opportunities.

Continued >>

Give Your Job Application a Jolt

Most job seekers write the same old boring cover letters. But here's a sure fire way to jolt the person reading it and grabbing their attention.

Start your letter/email with this;

Dear Hiring Manager,

If you acted on this application right now, here's what that would do for your business;

~ Your sales would increase year over year
~ Your customer service levels would increase
~ Your products would receive rave reviews
~ Your productivity would increase

I could go on but I think you get the idea. Whatever field you are in just figure out what impact you would make on a potential company and apply those to your letter. Be aggressive. Jolt the person reading it.